After a tight three quarters in the FIBA World Cup semi-finals, Team USA was able to finally pull away from Spain in the fourth quarter to win, 76-66. Team USA will face France for a chance at their fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup gold medal.
USA was led by the veteran leadership of Breanna Stewart, Kahleah Copper, and Jackie Young, the only three players on the roster to score in double digits. Stewart had 16 points, six rebounds, and shot an impressive 67% from the field. Copper had 13 points, and Young contributed 12 to the win.
12 September 2026, Berlin: Women’s Basketball: World Championship, Spain vs. USA, Knockout Round, Semifinals. The U.S. team high-fives after the game. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa (Photo by Andreas Gora/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Young has scored in double digit in all five games in the FIBA World Cup thus far; soldifying herself in the FIBA World Cup MVP conversation.
The matchup was tight the first three quarters as Spain continued to put pressure on the Team USA, and tied the game at the end of the third.
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Team USA pulled away by 10 points with under six minutes to go in the fourth quarter and were able to keep that extended lead the remainder of the game. Furthermore, Team USA amplified the defensive pressure in the fourth quarter, holding Spain to just eight points.
After the win, Stewart explained despite this not being the best game for Team USA, “We continued to do the little things, honing in on the rebounding, making sure we were getting to the offensive glass, and defensively we picked it up in the. second half.”
The defensive pressure in the fourth quarter was imperative as Team USA struggled from beyond the arc, only making three shots (17%), and had more turnovers (15) than assists (6) in the game.
Players gather together during the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup semi-final match between Spain and the United States in Berlin on September 12, 2026. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP via Getty Images)
In the loss, Spain had several bright spots with their young and talented team as Maria Conde (Toronto Tempo) and Iyana Martin (2026 7th round pick to Portland Fire) both had 17 points. Fellow WNBA rookie out of Seattle, Awa Fam (2026 third overall pick) was a point and two rebounds shy of a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.
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With the loss, Spain will face Germany on Sunday, September 13 at 10:15 am ET on TruTV and available on HBO Max for the bronze medal game before USA and France face off for the gold.
France’s #12 Iliana Rupert (L) and USA’s #09 A’ja Wilson go for a rebound in the women’s Gold Medal basketball match between France and the USA during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris on August 11, 2024. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
USA vs. France, Rematch of 2024 Paris Olympics
The matchup between the USA and France is poised to be a scrappy battle as France makes its first World Cup final appearance and seeks redemption for its heartbreaking one-point loss to Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
France fell 67-66 after Gabby Williams appeared to hit a game-winning three-pointer, but the shot was ruled a two-pointer after officials determined her foot was on the line.
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Both teams have a tight turn around to prepare for the matchup. Team USA needs to focus on cleaning up the turnovers, and knocking down three-pointers in this next game. France is known for the long ball, as they shot 37% from beyond the arc in their quarter final and semi-final game.
The team is quick, agile, and crafty led by the veteran leadership of Williams, Marine Johannes, and balanced with young talen in center Dominique Malonga (Seattle Storm), Carle Leite (Portland Fire), and Janelle Salaun (Golden State Valkyries).
However, USA has a multitude of options for offense from their veteran leadership in Stewart, Copper, Young, Chelsea Gray, and Napheesa Collier, but also the energy and spark off the bench from “young and turnt” as Paige Bueckers coined the younger squad debuting for Team USA for the first time in the FIBA World Cup. This crew includes Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Aliyah Boston.
BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 12: Breanna Stewart of USA goes for a layup during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Germany 2026 semi-final between Spain and USA at Berlin Arena on September 12, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Mami Yasui/FIBA via Getty Images)
After the semi-final win, Stewart was asked about the showdown with France and said, “Tough one. They’re a really tough team. They’re shooting the (expletive) out of the ball this tournament, but we have a quick turnaround…We will flip the page for France.”
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Echoing Stewart’s sentiments, Copper stated, “I think they [France] has been amazing this entire tournament, so just two great teams are going head to head.”
With a World Cup title on the line and unfinished business from Paris, the USA-France rematch promises to be one of the most anticipated games of the tournament. The championship game will air at 1:15 pm ET on TBS and is also available on HBO Max.
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This article was originally published on Forbes.com
